A six-pack of planets will line up and light up the night sky this month, folks.
Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will align for our viewing pleasure — from now until mid-February.
When was the last time all the planets aligned?
A planetary alignment goes down, up high, when more than two planets align in the sky.
If three planets align, it’s known as a mini-planetary alignment; four makes for a small planetary alignment, five or more is considered large, and on the ultra-rare occasion that eight are in alignment, we have a great or full planetary alignment.
This doesn’t mean they’ll all be in a straight line in space — rather, during the alignment, they’re gathered closely on one side of the Sun.
As Time Magazine reports, a planetary parade is mostly an optical illusion. Unlike the 1974 alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune captured by the Voyager spacecraft, the planets visible this month will be flung across the sky at varied depths, distances, and positions.
Time likens the phenomenon to “randomly placing six different people at six different spots in a field and positioning yourself so that you can gather them all in your camera lens at once.”
There are eight planets in our solar system, nine if you count dwarf power planet Pluto.
Because we live on Earth, the max number of planets we can see from our vantage, for now, is seven or eight if Pluto is in the mix.
However, these luminaries are not always in the same direction or sector — but are flung around the solar system and the sun at varying positions.
When we have five or more planets filing into a small sky area, an alignment is upgraded to parade status, not an official astronomical term but one that is used fast, loose, and with a touch more whimsy than those space geeks usually allow for.
The last time there was a seven-planet parade was in June 2022.
According to NASA, planet parades “aren’t super rare but they don’t happen every year either.”
This month’s event makes the cut — or walks the line — if you will.
Parade of Planets 2025 dates
The best time to see the planet parade is from sunset to 9 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time. Saturn and Venus will cozy up to each other in the southwest, with Mars in the east and gas giant Jupiter high overhead.
The latest space spectacle will be visible each night, weather permitting, from now to mid-February, with two key standout dates.
On January 21, Jupiter and Venus will shine brighter as they ascend in the night sky. Meanwhile, the moon will remain below the horizon until after midnight, resulting in a darker sky that offers a clearer view for stargazing and observing the planets.
On February 1, Venus and the thumbnail crescent moon will appear close together in the southwest sky for several hours before descending beneath the western horizon.
Where to look for planetary alignment
As with all awe-inspiring cosmic phenomena, the closer you get to dark sky communities and the further away you get from light pollution, the more prime your view will be. Allow at least 30 minutes for your vision to adjust to the darkness.
While using your phone will, in some ways, diminish your dark sky viewing experience, using an astronomy app like Starwalk ensures you’re looking up and at the correct target.
The good news? The planets’ brightness ensures that as long as weather permits, you’ll still be able to see the show in light-polluted cities.
Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will create a sweeping vista for the naked eye, but you’ll need a telescope or a pair of high-powered binocs to catch sight of Neptune and Uranus.
Mars will be making its closest approach to Earth in two years, and thus, the mighty red planet, named for the god of war himself, will appear brighter, bigger, and bolder in the night sky. This Martian exclamation point will further amplify the experience of the alignment.
Next month, on February 28, 2025, Mercury will join the cosmic lineup, meaning SEVEN planets: Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars will be strung together for our viewing pleasure.
Get it while you can, folks.
Astrological significance of planetary alignment and current planetary positions
Astrologically speaking, when the planets align this month, Venus, Saturn, and Neptune will be in the opioid bathwaters of Pisces. Mars will be retrograde and tied down by the apron stings and umbilical noose of Cancer, while Jupiter will be in hyperverbal controversy as cardio Gemini. Uranus will be wilding out in the bucolic, food-motivated pastures of Taurus.
When Mercury joins the lineup in February, it will be dream-making and future-shaping in the fixed climes of Aquarius.
Astrology 101: Your guide to the star
Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports back on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture, and personal experience. To book a reading, visit her website.
